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August 13, 2009

Show Notes for Digital Photography Life #15: We're Back, Baby

The latest digital photography news, the cameras we're spending our hard-earned money on and more are all here in the long-awaited Episode 15 of Digital Photography Life.

First off, where have we been for the past four months? It's a long story and we don't want to bore you. So, let's just say we're back now, better than ever. Well, maybe not better. Give us some time, dudes. But back, for sure.

In news of the day, we talk about some exciting and cool products:

The Canon HV40, a very sweet high-end consumer videocam that shoots beautiful HD video. I got this through the Amazon Vine program and, although I have some quibbles with it (you can read them on my review on Amazon; if you click on the above link, it will take you to the product page. At the time I'm writing this, my review is the third one that appears, but if more people find other reviews more helpful, it may move down).

Backup solutions Mozy and Drobo.

It's a floor wax and a desert topping: The sexy new Nikon S1000PJ is the first camera with a built in projector. Just think of all the people you'll be able to bore with your unedited pictures! Check out the unbelievable video here. I kind of want this now, but I'd prefer the technology in my iPhone or laptop.

The lovely Nikon S70, with its multitouch OLED screen, appeals to me in a lot of ways. I love OLED screens, and having been spoiled by the iPhone, I'm similarly enamoured of touch screens. This sexy beasts combines the best of both worlds. Why couldn't they have made this B002KANXI4 the S1000PJ's projector? Although, from my experience with the iPhone, I can tell you a touch screen isn't the best way to snap a picture - how will pressing on its back NOT make your camera shakier? I can see accidental blur being a problem with this design.

I recently bought the Panasonic Lumix TZ5S as a gift for my partner. It's a good, not great point and shoot. Bought it for the ability to shoot HD video, its beefy 10x optical zoom and because it starts at a rare but highly desired 28mm at the wide end. It also zooms while shooting video, something which most point and shoots can't do for some reason. On the negative side, I find it a bit poky, with slight but annoying shutter lag and a sluggish shot-to-shot time. Overall, though, it's a lot of camera for $230 or less.

Michael's a little less enthusiastic about the water-resistant Olympus Tough 6000 he bought. He wishes he sprung for this little cutie. But then, he might not have been able to afford the super-hot Nikon D300s he's waiting for. If he were new to the world of DSLRs, he might have started with other just-announced option from Nikon, the entry-level D3000. This is a lot of camera for $600.

Do you have money to burn on something pointless and vaguely disturbing? If so, check out the Sony Party Shot. This is the accessory for those of you who are too lazy to point and shoot your point and shoot.

SmugMug is our favorite site for sharing and - should you chose to accept this assignment - selling your photos. SmugMug has two fantastic offers just for our listeners:

50% off your SmugMug service at any level (enter code "Flickr" at checkout). This is a fantastic discount and you should take advantage of it in time to share your holiday photos!

A free camera strap to any listener of Digital Photography Life: This one is just crazy. A high-quality camera strap that replaces the neck-slicing piece of canvas that your camera's manufacturer condescended to include with your DSLR. Get your freebie here.

CJ, sorry we've lost you. I regret that we were off the air for so long. I wish life didn't get complicated, and that I could promise perfection. Unfortunately, I suffered some setbacks, stresses and personal losses during the period we were off air.

Sometimes something's got to give. Since my full time job pays the bills and since my kids came with a no-deposit, no-return, policy, Digital Photography Life was the thing that had to be set aside for a bit. But we're back now, and for those of you who've can - and will - stick with us, we appreciate your understanding, support and kindness.

Can't help agreeing with billg. (It wasn't CJ that left, Scott.) Thought I'd already unsubscribed in iTunes but there you were again. So I thought I'd at least give it another chance – who knows, perhaps you'd improved, i.e. prepared better and knew what you were talking about? But no, more of the same – not really thought out, not really well prepared, comments about online services that are apparently better than Mozy but whose name you can't even remember and so on and on... So this time I'll be making sure I hit that unsubscribe button properly. Click!....

On Friday morning, the day of your return I was sitting on the bus on my way to work listening to a substitute Podcast, wondering what happened to you guys and if we would ever get to hear another episode of DPL. It was with great joy I saw my RSS feed of 'Friends of DPL' display 'They're Back!' when I arrived at work :-)
I haven't had a chance to listen to the new episode yet, so I don't know if anything has changed. But based on Steve's comment above should things be as the used to. What a relief! :-)
And I can confirm Nik Z. was jumping of joy when he found out you're back, as I was the one who told him ;-)

So glad you are back and sorry for whatever the personal issues that prevented you from producing the podcasts for so long...HOWEVER..
I think what was so frustrating (and worrying) to many of your fans is that while you were gone you gave no explanation whatsoever for your long absents. No personal details were required.. just some kind of statement that you would be absent for a while. It was like you just disappeared. I frankly, wondered whether something had happened to one of you.

One thing that I don't understand is why people feel the need to complain or tell you that they are unsubscribing. If you don't like the show, stop listening and keep your mouth shut. What good are you doing by telling someone else that you don't agree with them and then leave? Especially when the reason you had paused podcasting were problems, do you really want to come back and hear people say: your show sucks!.... I don't think so. People need to learn how to be a little bit more respectful and positive.